Report: CBP Attorney Allegedly Fired After Fleeing International Checkpoint in Texas Without Inspection

Photo: CBP.gov26 Oct 2015

News reports indicate an attorney who worked for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may have been terminated from his job after leaving an international bridge inspection point before being released. The attorney was arrested on the U.S. side of the bridge by local police.

An as yet unnamed attorney for the CBP was detained on Saturday night at about 11 p.m. while crossing the international bridge in Del Rio, Texas. The man allegedly left the scene prior to being released, according to a San Angelo Live news report. He was later detained by Del Rio police and returned to the inspection station.

There appears some confusion as to the attorney’s employment status with the federal agency. An initial statement from the CBP obtained by the Del Rio News-Herald said the CBP attorney was “currently a U.S. Customs and Border Protection attorney,” according to San Angelo Live’s report. A statement received today notes a significant change in wording. The new statement reads “The driver, who was an attorney for U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the time, was initially detained and later released.” This would imply the attorney might no longer be working for the agency.

The attorney has not yet been identified as an investigation is ongoing.

Breitbart Texas contacted the Del Rio CBP office. Chief James Pevehouse informed Breitbart Texas that he has been instructed to refer all questions to the region’s public affairs officer. A call into the office of Richard Pauza has yet to be returned.

CBP spokesman Dennis Smith said through a statement:

An alleged port-running incident at the Del Rio Port of Entry is under investigation. As CBP officers were inspecting a vehicle around 11 p.m., Oct. 17, the vehicle allegedly left the port prior to officers releasing it from inspection. The vehicle was later stopped by a local law enforcement officer and returned to the port. The driver, who was an attorney for U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the time, was initially detained and later released. The incident is being investigated by the CBP Office of Internal Affairs.

At this time, there is no information as to why the attorney was being detained for additional inspection. It is also not known if anything was found that might have caused the attorney to flee prior to completion of the inspection.

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and is a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.